Rupert Friend: Depp was my teacher

Rupert Friend has said working with Johnny Depp on his first film was a great lesson in acting.

The 30-year-old British star made his debut as Johnny's lover in 2004's The Libertine - a film about the infamous Earl of Rochester - and told The Independent he thought of The Pirates Of The Caribbean star as a teacher.

Rupert said: "I'd never seen a film camera before. So it was a huge learning curve in front of one of the greatest screen actors ever. I had the greatest teacher ever - even if he didn't know that."

The ex-boyfriend of actress Keira Knightley is currently starring on stage at London's Arcola Theatre in a revival of Dennis Potter's controversial Brimstone And Treacle, in which his character infiltrates the home of a suburban couple and takes advantage of their disabled daughter.

Rupert revealed he has some time off before rehearsals began, because Johnny had taught him it's important for actors not to work too hard.

He said: "I've never thought it was a good idea to act back-to-back. If you are going to have any chance of replicating life, you need to live it. I also never forgot something Johnny Depp said to me, which Marlon Brando said to him, 'You only have so many faces in your pocket.'

"I really admire artists who take the time to recharge their batteries and not continually call on it. I think you can spot tired and jaded artists quite quickly."